WTF with Marc Maron: Episode 1670 – Ben Stiller (August 18, 2025)

Guest: Ben Stiller
Host: Marc Maron
Main Theme: Revisiting Ben Stiller, diving into family legacy, comedy’s evolution, the making of "Severance," navigating creative processes, aging, and the changing landscape of entertainment.

Episode Overview

Marc Maron reunites with Ben Stiller for a deeply personal, funny, and insightful conversation, reflecting on how both have changed since their first podcast encounter 15 years ago. The episode covers Stiller's acclaimed work as director and producer of "Severance," the lasting impact of his comedy career, and personal stories about family, aging, and creative anxiety. Both delve into the challenges and joys of the entertainment industry, with candid talk about the state of comedy in film, the art of acting and directing, and the transition into new creative phases.

1. Reflections on Time, Aging, and Family Heritage

Time and Aging

• Maron and Stiller note it’s been 15 years since Ben last visited the podcast (11:01).
  • “It’s been 15 years ago. 15 years since we did this at the old house. That's crazy.” —Ben Stiller [11:01]
• Discussion of the acceleration of time with age, especially noticing it through children growing up and friends aging (12:00).
  • “My daughter’s 23.” —Ben Stiller [12:00]
  • “I gotta go look at myself. Am I not… if you look like that, everybody around you is aging horribly. I don't change at all.” —Marc Maron [12:10]

Parents and Legacy

• Both share stories of their Jewish family roots, showbiz backgrounds, and the reality of aging parents (13:30).
  • “My dad’s 86, and it’s all going away.” —Marc Maron [13:23]
  • “My dad and sister is still alive, she's 94.” —Ben Stiller [13:47]
• Stiller discusses a documentary he made about his parents, Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, set for release on Apple in October (15:40).
  • “It's finally finished, and it's going to be coming out in October on Apple.” —Ben Stiller [15:40]
  • The documentary includes archival talk show footage, family rehearsal tapes, and intimate moments, even arguments and discussions of his mother’s drinking (16:35).
• Reflection on inheriting or rebelling against parent traits, and on supporting children in the arts (17:45).
  • “There's the stuff that you rebel against... then for me, in life, I’ve made those mistakes...” —Ben Stiller [18:09]

Notable Moment

• Stiller’s memory of his mother being a tougher audience:
  • “She just was a tougher audience, you know, so the bar was a little bit higher. … My mother would, like, love Spinal Tap. My dad… would appreciate Spinal Tap, but not really get it.” [19:30]

2. Comedy, Validation, and the State of the Movie Industry

Comedy and Validation

• Maron highlights Stiller’s reputation for live comedy bits (e.g., at the Oscars), praising his skills while discussing the tension and preparation involved (22:27).
  • “You're one of the best physical comedians ever. … It's so natural.” —Marc Maron [22:59]
  • Detailed breakdown of the technicalities of the Oscar elevator bit and the pressure to land a joke (23:13-24:34).
• Discussion of industry awards, validation, and the shifting outlook with age.
  • “I’ve won nothing. You have to look at what are your goals. … Do you want to spend your last 20 years worrying about the stuff that you haven’t gotten?” —Ben Stiller [26:05]
  • On the ego boost of prizes and the reality of awards campaigning (26:46, 27:51).

The Decline of Movie Comedies

• Both lament the disappearance of theatrical comedies due to changing economics, rise of streaming, and risk aversion among studios (32:25–36:27).
  • “I don't think it [film comedy] exists right now.” —Ben Stiller [32:25]
  • Stiller on the shift: “There are the movies that have to make a huge amount of money … so comedy doesn’t get made unless it fits a franchise.” [32:31]
  • Reflections on how mid-budget classics like "Dog Day Afternoon" have become rare (33:35).

Notable Quote

• On the lack of new comedic movie stars:
  • “There’s a dearth of those people, but you don’t have … the chances to carry something.” —Ben Stiller [36:42]
• Maron: “Where are these movies? Where’s the whole fart movie?” [35:08]

3. Creating "Severance": Concept, Design, and Reception

Origins and Tone

• Stiller describes being drawn to the unique tone of "Severance," and how it blends existential office comedy with sci-fi intrigue (39:04).
  • “It reminded me of these Office comedies… but then the basic idea was: what if you could just shut off your outside life when you go to work?” —Ben Stiller [39:04–39:56]
• The show's concept came largely from series creator Dan Erickson, with the central device—a memory-separating brain chip—allowing for exploration of identity, work, and trauma (40:00–41:01).

Production Design

• The show's minimalist, liminal style developed through detailed collaboration and lookbooks with references to '60s office photography and brutalist design (48:39–49:31).
  • “We put together a book, a lookbook, like a 200 page lookbook that's always growing…” —Ben Stiller [49:09]
  • The importance of environment: “The first thing I’m thinking is like, okay, the carpet. What color green is the carpet?” [50:13]

Casting and Character Work

• Adam Scott’s casting rooted in his comedic sensibility and depth (51:09).
• Patricia Arquette and her process for finding Ms. Cobel with Stiller’s close guidance (52:42–55:08).
  • “She’s the most incredible person… not precious in any way and willing to take chances.” —Ben Stiller [53:45]
  • Stiller’s contrasting directing needs depending on actor: “With Christopher Walken… I maybe have said two words of direction to him ever.” [55:08]

Fan Engagement and Pressure

• The unique intensity of the “Severance” fandom and pressure to deliver satisfying answers when making a mystery show (43:15–46:51; 72:47–75:49).
  • “I’ve never experienced anything like this where I’ve worked on something where people are so curious... watching every little detail.” —Ben Stiller [44:20]
• The joy and burden of giving an audience “just enough” (47:18, 74:03).

Notable Quotes

• On fan theories:

  • “You don’t want to answer people’s questions... You don’t want to take away the possibility… even if it might not be that for me.” —Ben Stiller [47:22]

• On ambiguity in storytelling:

  • “You have to be willing to make a choice sometimes that is gonna leave some people frustrated.” —Ben Stiller [74:11]
  • Maron: “If anyone is disappointed with an ending of a series that went on that long … they can go fuck themselves.” [74:52]

4. Acting, Directing, and Lessons in Craft

Insights on Directing

• Stiller’s directorial style adapts to actor needs—sometimes hands-off, sometimes exploratory (56:19–57:58).
  • “If it ain't broke, don’t fix it … that’s what your job is.” —Ben Stiller [57:46]
  • Empathy for actors is integral, influenced by working with director Lynn Shelton and by his own acting experiences (85:55–88:23).

Acting Processes

• The challenge of acting in projects when the waiting outweighs the screen time, and balancing downtime on set (81:03–82:15).
  • “The idea that, like, okay, we're going to do this movie could take seven years… I don't know.” —Marc Maron [78:44]

Working with Iconic Actors

• Working relationships with Benicio Del Toro (“Dannemora”) and Robert De Niro ("Joker")—the intensity, unpredictability, and director-actor give and take (61:05–66:02).
  • “Every scene he approached, he wanted to make as interesting and as layered and as good as he could.” —Ben Stiller [62:48]
  • On De Niro’s understated directorial adjustments: “You're coming in a little hot. Remember, like, De Niro’s your boss.” —Marc Maron, recalling Todd Phillips’ direction [84:41]

5. Personal Health, Life Changes, and Podcasting

Health Journeys

• Stiller reveals being 10 years past prostate cancer, found by an early PSA test—emphasizing the importance of regular health checks (89:26–90:26).
• Discussion about the discomfort around preventative care and the anxiety of tests, with humor.
  • “Go ahead and do the finger. Just double check it.” —Marc Maron [91:46]

Podcast as Cultural Artifact

• Maron reflects on winding down the show after 16 years, feeling satisfied but also recognizing the void and labor intensiveness.
  • “There’s this idea now… Why would you stop?... We did it. All right. We talked to everybody twice.” —Marc Maron [92:20]
  • Stiller credits Maron for creating the “longform” podcast genre: “You really did.” [92:50]
  • Both discuss how podcasts filled the space once occupied by real talk shows, but also acknowledge the splintered, sometimes destructive podcast landscape (93:08–94:19).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Stiller on his creative shift:
  “I want to make stuff that I really want to see.” [59:20]
• Regarding Severance’s fandom:
  “The audience for the show is paying such close attention… that's a great thing.” [45:38]
• On letting go of the podcast:
  “I unleashed some sort of evil on the world. You know, the possibilities of it.” —Marc Maron [93:49]
• Physical comedy and preparation:
  “You're one of the best physical comedians ever. … It's so natural.” —Marc Maron [22:59]

Key Timestamps

• Opening banter, pandemic, aging/parents: [00:00–13:47]
• Family legacy, documentary on Jerry Stiller/Anne Meara: [13:47–16:37]
• Managing inherited flaws, children & showbiz: [17:45–19:44]
• Oscar bits & comedy process: [22:27–24:46]
• Awards, ego, validation: [26:05–27:51]
• State of comedy in film: [32:25–36:27]
• Making Severance (concept, tone, process): [39:04–47:19]
• Production and casting: [48:39–51:09]
• Directing actors (Patricia Arquette, Walken, Del Toro): [52:42–66:16]
• Acting and waiting on set: [81:03–83:55]
• Maron on ending the podcast: [92:20–94:03]

Episode Takeaway

A warm, reflective, and deeply insightful reunion, this episode offers both a master class in creative adaptation and a meditation on time, legacy, and the continual act of reinventing oneself. Fans of Ben Stiller, "Severance," or industry wisdom will find revelations, humor, and solace in how both Maron and Stiller honestly navigate their work, their anxieties, and the ever-shifting ground of show business—and life.